Voluntary Commercial Manager Vacancy

A unique volunteering opportunity has arisen at Tunbridge Wells’ Spa Valley Railway to join the line as its Commercial Manager.

The Spa Valley Railway, which saw a 41% increase in its visitor numbers during its 2016 season, is actively seeking a Commercial Manager to help support the railways General Manager. This vacancy has arisen following the retirement of the previous manager and the Spa Valley Railway is now looking for suitable candidates to take on the role and lead the department into the future.

The successful candidate would, following appointment, sit on the railways Leadership Team, the governing body of the Spa Valley Railway. This is where the managers, directors and trustees headed by the railways Chairman meet once a month to discuss and develop the railway.

Opened as a tourist heritage railway in December 1996 the SpVR has been operating trains ever since, initially as far as Groombridge Station and in 2011 to Eridge, providing the railway with a cross platform interchange with the national rail network.

The railways visitor numbers for the previous 4yrs have averaged 30,000 until 2016 when they hit a record high of 43,126. This figure needs to continue increasing and the Commercial Manager would work alongside the General Manager to continue boosting visitor numbers and the products the railway offers.

The Spa Valley Railway is owned and operated by the Wealden Railway Co. Ltd and supported by the Tunbridge Wells & Eridge Railway Preservation Society which is a registered charity.

Heritage trains operate weekends from February to the end of October each year with services running on Tuesday’s Wednesday’s & Thursdays during school holidays and the summer period. During December & early January Santa and Mince Pie specials operate making the railway nearly a year-round operation.

The five-mile heritage railway is blessed with a connection to mainline services at Eridge which brings in customers from all over the country.